Compressor



w. w- PAGET COMPRESSOR Aug. 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1945 W. W. PAGET Aug. 25, 1953 COMPRESSOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1945 1220622202.- 24 222 fayei.

] MAMM- Patented Aug. 25, 1953 COMPRESSOR Win Paget, Michigan City, -Ind.,assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationFebruary 23, 1945,:Serial-N0.'579,420 reclaims. (o1.'23'0 '1sa) My invention relates to pumps or compressors, and more particularly to compressors for air or other gaseous fluids.

It is sometimes necessary that compressors be built for compressing gaseous fluids "to extremely high pressures. It is necessary with such compressors that every precaution be taken "to prevent any leakage of oil into the com-pressor cylinders since the presence of oil in the compressed fluid may result in serious explosions taking place.

In a preferred form 'of myinvention I have shown a compressor having four cylinders in whichfluid is "compressed in four stages. The two lower pressure cylinders are supported by guide members which are connected to'a crank-- case, and reciprocable within these pressure cylinders are pistons which are connected by piston rods to crossh'eads slidably supported by the guide members. By reason of the connection of the piston rods to the crossheads, the movements of the piston rods are such that means may be provided for sea-lingly en gaging the piston rods to prevent the passing of oil along them to the cylinders. Such sealing means is provided, and, in order to prevent "oil passing this sealing means from gaining access to the pressure ends of the cylinders-means areprovided fordraining oil from the lower ends of the pressure cylinders. The two higher pressure cylinders are supported :at the outer "ends "of the lower pressure cylinders and the :pistons inthe higher pressure cylinders are connected .for reciprocation with'the pistonsin the lower pressure cylinders. With this arrangement, the only fluid escaping along the pistons in the high pressure cylinders will be the fluid that is presentin the compressor cylinders. To avoid th need for a supply of lubricant to the compressor cylinders, there are provided carbon liners for the compressor cylinders or carbon rings for the pistons. Instead of a compressor with four pressurecylinders, there may be provided, if desired, a compressor with more or less than four cylinders, and having two or more cylinders arranged in axial alinement.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved compressor for gaseous fluids. Another object is to provide an improved compressor which is capable of compressing fluid to extremely high pressures. Still another object is to provide an improved multistage compressor having an improved arrangement of compressor cylinders. Yet another object is to provide a "compressor having its parts so arranged and constructed as to prevent lubricant, such as oil, from in planes including the longitudinal 'aXes 'o'fft'he cylinders of a V-type compressor, and showing an intercool'er havingporti'ons connected between different "stages of compression, parts "being shown in -elevation to facilitate illustration.

Fig. .2 is an enlarged elevational view of the right-hand end of theinterco'olershown inFig. 1.

Fig. '3 is an elevational side view, with parts broken away, showing the end portion of the interc-ooler as viewed from the right in Fig. "2

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional "view taken on the plane of the line 4- of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the 1ine 6 6-oifFi-g. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional View of a compressor having its cylinders arrangedin atrial alinement and taken in planes including the iongitudinal axes of the conopressor cylinders.

Fig. '8 is "a fragmentary horizontal -1sectiona1 view taken *on the plane "of the 'line'8 8 of:1*' ig.'7.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, there is shown amul'tistag'e compressor I including a crankcase 2 having two cylindrical-shaped projecting portions '4 and 5 spaced-angularly from each other. Connected to the outer end of the projecting portion lg as by screws -6,.is an'annular member F against "which a flange portion 8"01" a guide cylinder 9 rests. Engaging the flange portion 8 is a cylindricalshaped'spacing member l 0 surrounding the guide cylinder-9 and supporting at its outer end a com pressor cylinder i2. -A flange portion E3 on the compressor cylinder engages the outer end of the spacing member, and this flange portion, the spacing member, and the flange portion ,8 of the guide cylinder are secured, as by screws 1 5 to the annular rnember l. The guide cylinder has a guideway Hi for reciprocably guiding a crosshead H which is connected by a connecting rod 18 to a crankshaft 19 extending through the crankcase 2 and driven by suitable power means, not shown. Thecros'shead is also connected to a piston rod 20 which is attached to a piston 2| contained within the compressor cylinder l2 and carrying carbon rings 22 slidably engaging the cylinder walls. A packing ring 23 supported in an opening in an outer end wall of the guide cylinder sealingly engages the piston rod 20 and prevents the escape of lubricant from the crankcase to the compressor cylinder beneath the piston 2|. The compressor cylinder I2 is the low pressure cylinder of the multistage compressor, the other compressor cylinders, in the order of increasing pressure ranges, being indicated by reference numerals 24, 25 and 28.

The compressor cylinder 24 has a flange portion 29 resting on a flange portion 30 of a guide member 3|, and the flange portion 30 rests on the outer end of a crosshead guide 32 which abuts the projecting portion of the crankcase. The cylinder 24, the guide member 3|, and the crosshead guide 32 are arranged in axial alinement with each other and with the projecting portion 5 and are attached to the latter by screws 34. Reciprocable within the crosshead guide 32 is a crosshead 35 which is connected by a connecting rod 36 to the crankshaft Hi. The crosshead 35 is also connected by a piston rod 38 to a piston 39 contained within the cylinder 24 and carrying carbon rings 40 slidably engaging the cylinder walls. Fixed to the member 3| in any suitable manner is an annular member 4| carrying oil rings 42 which engage the piston rod 38 for preventing the escape of oil along the latter to the cylinder 24.

Fixed to the outer ends of the compressor cylinders l2 and 24 respectively are head members 44 and 45. The head member 44 is provided with an intake chamber 43 which receives fluid, such as air, from an intake conduit 4! and is communicable, under the control of an inlet valve mechanism 48, with the interior of the compressor cylinder [2. Fluid is taken into the cylinder l2 past the inlet valve mechanism 48 during the suction stroke of the piston 2| and is then compressed and discharged past a discharge valve mechanism 55 to a discharge chamber 5| where it enters a conduit 52 and is conducted to an intercooler, generally designated 53.

The intercooler 53 includes head members 55 and 55, the head member 55 having, as shown in Fig. 4, chambers 51, 58 and 59, and the head member 56 having similar chambers, one of these being shown in Fig. 6. Conduits 50 connect each of the chambers 51, 58 and 59 in communication with the corresponding chamber (one is shown at 51) in the head member 56. Spaced along the conduits 60 are cooling fins 6| for dissipating heat from the conduits.

The conduit 52 is connected to the chamber 5], and fluid discharged through this conduit to the chamber 51 enters the conduits 65 opening thereinto and is conducted to the corresponding chamber 51' in the head member 56. The fluid is then conducted from the latter chamber through a conduit 64 to an intake chamber 65 in the head member 45, and fluid conducted to this intake chamber is delivered, under the control of an inlet valve mechanism 63, to the compressor cylinder 24. The fluid is compressed further in the cylinder 25 and then discharged under the control of a discharge valve mechanism 61 to a discharge member 68 Where it enters a conduit 53 and is conducted to the chamber 58 in the head member 55 of the intercooler. Fluid conducted to the chamber 58 enters the conduits 60 opening thereinto and is conducted to the corresponding chamber in the head member 56. A conduit ll conducts the fluid from the latter chamber to an intake chamber I2 formed in a head member 13 which is attached, as by screws 14, to the outer end of the compressor cylinder 26.

The compressor cylinder 26 is supported by the head member 44 in axial alinement with the compressor cylinder l2 and comprises a cylindrical casing 16 having a bore 1'! in which a sleeve-shaped liner 18 is arranged. Reciprocable within the liner 18 is a piston 19 which projects at its inner end through an opening in the head member 44 and is connected, as by welding, to a member 8| which is shown herein as being threaded to the outer end of the piston rod 20. Carried by the piston l9 are rings 82 slidably engaging the walls of the liner l8 and having a close fit with the latter so as to prevent the escape of fluid from the compressor cylinder 26 along the piston. The rings 82 are made of a metal such as steel or bronze so that they will expand to maintain a close flt with the liner as wear takes place, and the liner is made of a material such as carbon so that a supply of lubricantto the surfaces will not be needed.

Fluid delivered by the conduit 1| to the intake chamber 12 is admitted under the control of an inlet valve mechanism 84 to the compressor cylinder 25 where it is compressed still further by the piston I5 and then discharged past a discharge valve mechanism 85 to passages 86 opening through the head member 13 into a conduit 88 leading to the chamber 59 in the head member 55 of the intercooler. The fluid is conducted from the chamber 59 through the conduits 60 to the corresponding chamber in the head member 55 where it enters a conduit 90 and is conducted to an intake chamber 9| formed in a head member 52 which is connected to the outer end of the compressor cylinder 28.

The compressor cylinder 28 is attached to the head member 45 in axial alinement with the compressor cylinder 24 and comprises a casing 94 having a bore 95 in which a sleeve-shaped carbon liner 95 is received. Reciprocable within the liner 96 is a piston 91 which projects through an opening 98 in the head member 45 and is connected in any suitable manner to the outer end of the piston rod 38. Expansible rings I00, made of a metal such as steel or bronze, are carried by the piston 91 and slidably engage the walls of the liner 96 with a close fit so as to prevent the escape of compressed fluid along the piston. The presence of the carbon liner makes it unnecessary to supply a lubricant to this cylinder.

Fluid conducted to the intake chamber 9| by the conduit 55 is admitted to the cylinder 28 under the control of an inlet valve mechanism I02. The fluid is compressed still further in this cylinder by the piston 9'! and is then discharged past a discharge valve mechanism |03 to passages I04 opening through the head member 92 into a conduit [06 which leads to a place of storage or to a point of use.

In order to prevent a variation of pressures in the compressor cylinder l2 beneath the piston 2| and to vent from this space any oil or water gaining admission thereto, the lower end of the cylinder I2 opens into the cylindrical-shaped spacing member I0, and the spacing member is provided with ports Hi8 opening through its side walls to atmosphere. The lower end of the compressor cylinder 24 is connected to atmosphere through a port H so as to prevent a"variatiori of pressure therein; and a conduit H2 is connected at one end in communication with .a groove H4 formed in the cylinder wall between the ends of the latter, and is connected at its other end in communication with the intake conduit 41 for the low pressure cylinder l2. It will be seen that any fluid entering the groove H4 will pass through the conduit H2 into the intake to the low pressure cylinder. In order to reduce the tendency of lubricant to'move along the piston rod 38 into the lower end of the compressorcyl-i inder 24, a passage H5 in the guide member 3i connects the space surrounding the lower portion of this piston rod to a recess H6 in the crosshead guide 32, and a conduit [i8 connects the recess to a point of low pressure, such as the intake manifold for the engine which maybe used to drive the crankshaft I9.

There is shown in Figs. '7 and 8 a compressor like that of Fig. 1 except that the compressor cylinders extend in horizontal planes from opposite sides of a crankcase 420. The parts of this compressor corresponding to parts of the compressor shown in Fig. l have been given like reference numerals. The crankcase I20 has cylindrical projecting portions HI and [22 at its opposite sides, these portions having their axes parallel to each other and lying in the same horizontal plane. The guide member 9, the spacing member to, and the low pressure cylinder l2 are connected by the screws to the crankcase portion l2! in axial alinement with the latter, and the crosshead guide 32, the guide member 3i, and the pressure cylinder 24 are connected by the screws 34 to the crankcase portion 120 with their axes in alinement with the axis of this portion. The compressor cylinders 26 and 28 are connected, as in the first form of the invention, to the head members 34 and 45 at the outer ends of the pressure cylinders l2 and 24, respectively.

As a result of my invention there is provided an improved multistage compressor. With the arrangement of the compressor cylinders as shown, the means for sealing the compressor cylinders from communication with the crankcase, and the means for draining lubricant from the cylinders connected to the crankcase, the possibility that lubricant will gain admission to the compressor cylinders is reduced to a minimum.

While there are in this application specifically described two forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a piston rod, a crosshead secured to said piston rod, 9. crosshead guide having a tubular portion coaxial with said cylinder, said piston being hollow and having a skirt portion extending towards said crosshead, said tubular guide portion projecting into the hollow of said piston, means carried by said tubular guide portion. and disposed within said piston in at least one extreme position of the latter for sealingly engaging said piston rod, and means for venting the space within said piston externally of said guide portion to atmosphere.

2. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, 2;

piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having apiston rod, means providing a sealed space through which said piston rod passes, and means piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a piston rod, means providing a chamber through which said piston rod passes and having seals at its opposite ends sealingly engaging said rod,;

said chamber receiving any lubricant flowing along said rod toward said cylinder, and means for connecting said chamber to a "source of subatmospheric pressure so that any lubricant leak-: ing past a seal into said chamber is drawn ofi.

4. In combination, :in a pump, coaxial cylin-;

ders of difierent size and'capacity in which fluid may be placed under relatively different pressures, a guide coaxial with said cylinders, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders respectively, a crosshead guided in said guide, the piston, remote from said crosshead having a piston rod projecting into said inner cylinder and secured to said crosshead, said inner piston being secured to said piston rod between the outer piston and said crosshead, and means for detachably securing said inner piston to :said piston rod, said inner piston being hollow and open at one end and said crosshead guide projecting into the hollow thereof so. that said crosshead guide .is disposed in part within said piston in at least one extreme position of the latter so that a transverse plane perpendicular to the axis of the piston rod cuts through both said inner piston and said crosshead.

5. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a piston rod, said piston being hollow and open at one end, means forming a septum for one end of the cylinder and projecting into the hollow of said piston at least in one extreme position of the latter to provide a sealed chamber surrounding said piston rod for receiving any leakage of lubricant along said piston rod toward said piston to prevent access of lubricant to said cyl-- inder, and means for connecting said chamber to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure so that any lubricant leaking into said chamber is drawn off.

6. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, a crosshead guide aligned with said cylinder, a crosshead guided in said guide, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a piston rod secured to said crosshead, means carried by said guide and projecting into said cylinder and providing a sealed chamber surrounding said piston rod for intercepting flow of lubricant along said piston rod toward said cylinder, and means for connecting said chamber to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure so that any lubricant leaking into said chamber is drawn off.

7. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, said piston being hollow and open at one end, a crosshead guide aligned with and projecting into said cylinder with a portion thereof disposed in the hollow of said piston in at least one extreme position of the latter, and a crosshead reciprocably guided in said guide, said piston having a piston rod secured to said crosshead.

8. In combination, in a pump, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and hollow and open at one end, a crosshead guide, said piston moving in a path at one end of which said crosshead guide is at least partially within said piston, and a crosshead guided by said crosshead guide and fixed to said piston.

9. In a compressor, a cylinder, a crosshead guide, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a crosshead reciprocable in said guide, a piston rod secured to the crosshead and to the piston, means providing a chamber through which the piston rod passes, a seal at each end of the chamber and having fluid sealing engagement with the rod, and means to connect the chamber to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, including passage means through said guide.

10. In a compressor, a crankcase, a cylinder, means to support the cylinder on the crankcase, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston, means providing a sealed space through which the piston rod passes, and means to connect said space to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, including passage means through said support means.

11. The compressor of claim 10, in which the sealed space is a chamber mounted on said cylinder support means and having a rod-engaging seal at each end.

12. The compressor of claim 10, in which: the passage means includes a crosshead guide; a crosshead is reciprocably mounted in the crosshead guide; and the piston rod is also connected to the crosshead.

13. In a compressor, a casing member, a cross- 8. head guide mounted on the casing member, a cylinder, a hollow piston open at one end and reciprocable in the cylinder, a crosshead reciprocable in the crosshead guide, a rod connected to the crosshead and to the piston, means projecting into the open end of the piston in at least one extreme position thereof and providing a sealed space through which the rod passes, and passage means in said guide for connecting said space to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure t conduct lubricant collected in the space away from the cylinder.

WIN W. PAGET.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 159,533 Westinghouse Feb. 9, 1875 368,445 Baldwin Aug. 16, 1887 1,013,348 Whitaker Jan. 2, 1912 1,027,923 Spohrer May 28, 1912 1,073,656 Barker Sept. 23, 1913 1,379,248 Carrey May 24, 1921 1,409,868 Kien Mar. 14, 1922 1,417,571 Riesner May 30, 1922 1,426,022 Thomson Aug. 15, 1922 1,529,258 Lipman Mar. 10, 1925 1,557,706 Knox Oct. 20, 1925 1,580,973 Rembold Apr. 13, 1926 1,731,044 Carrey Oct. 8, 1929 2,044,563 Bogoslowsky June 11, 1935 2,150,487 Brown Mar. 14, 1939 2,246,279 Wishart June 17, 1941 

